JohnI.Biergel

John I. Biergel 1925-2012 FEEDING HILLS - John I. Biergel, 86, passed away on Tuesday, April 17, at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield. Born in Torring-ton, CT, on November 23, 1925, a son of the late William and Mary (Klej) Biergel, he was a longtime resident of Feeding Hills. John was the loving husband of the late Muriel (Keating) Biergel who passed away in 1995. He served his country honorably as a Corporal in the U.S. Army Air Corps., during WW II. John served with the 504th Bomb Group on the B-29 base at Tinian Island. After the war, he continued his education and in in 1952 he graduated from Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT, with a BA in Sociology. In 1954 he graduated from Boston College with a Masters in Education. He taught in East Granby, CT for 37 years, primarily at East Granby Jr-Sr. High School. He was also Building Principal at East Granby Jr.-Sr. High School from 1964-1967. John was Teacher of The Year in 1986 in East Granby for his teaching excellence. When asked about success, he was quoted as saying, "I would hope that I can say the world is a better place for my having been there" He was a communicant of Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Springfield and a member of its St. Joseph's Society. He was also a Lector and Eucharistic Minister at the Church. He loved traveling with his wife, Muriel, he was an avid skier, a gentleman farmer who took great pride in his blueberries. John is survived by his sister, Jean B. Woishnis of Agawam; nine nieces, Jeanne Gavrin of Carmel, CA, Sr. Darlene Young of Rolling Hills, CA, Barbara Moriarty of Agawam, Nancy Stanek of Lomita, CA, Mary Lee Bertrand of Feeding Hills, Carol Mentos of Amherst, Melanie Hudnall of Lomita, CA, Elizabeth Chianciola of Gloucester, MA, and Mary Beth Sutton of Suffield, CT; one nephew, Joseph Woishnis of New York City; many grand nieces and grand nephews. He was also predeceased by his brother, William Biergel and three sisters Alice Young, Ida Biergel, and Mary Mastarlerz; and one nephew William Woishnis. Funeral services for John will be held on Saturday, April, 21, beginning at 8:30 a.m. from Colonial Forastiere Funeral Home, 985 Main St., Agawam, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 346 Franklin St., Springfield. Burial will be in St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Chicopee. Calling Hours will be held on Friday, April 20, from 3-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Donations in John's name may be made to the Fr. John Skowronski Fund, c/o Our lady of the Rosary Church.

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